Steve Ralston
Upright0.9
Birth dateJune 14, 1974 (age 52)
Birth placeSt. Louis, Missouri, U.S.[1]
Height5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
PositionMidfielder
Collegeyears 11993–1995
College 1FIU Golden Panthers
Collegegoals 140
Years 11996–2001
Clubs 1Tampa Bay Mutiny
Caps 1177
Goals 134
Years 22002–2009
Clubs 2New England Revolution
Caps 2201
Goals 242
Years 32010
Clubs 3AC St. Louis
Caps 32
Goals 30
Years 42010
Clubs 4New England Revolution
Caps 40
Goals 40
Totalcaps380
Totalgoals76
Nationalyears 11997–2007
Nationalteam 1United States
Nationalcaps 136
Nationalgoals 14
Manageryears 12010
Managerclubs 1AC St. Louis (assistant)
Manageryears 22010–2014
Managerclubs 2Houston Dynamo (assistant)
Manageryears 32015–2018
Managerclubs 3San Jose Earthquakes (assistant)
Manageryears 42018
Managerclubs 4San Jose Earthquakes (interim)
Manageryears 52022–
Managerclubs 5San Jose Earthquakes (assistant)

Steve Ralston (born June 14, 1974) is an American former soccer player and manager who played as a midfielder. He spent most of his playing career in Major League Soccer with the Tampa Bay Mutiny and the New England Revolution, retiring in 2010 as the league's all-time career leader in assists (135), appearances (378), starts (372), and minutes played (33,143). He also held the U.S. record for professional appearances (412) in 2010.[2] In 2020, Major League Soccer selected Ralston as one of the greatest players in league history.[3]

Ralston served as assistant manager at several teams, including the Houston Dynamo and San Jose Earthquakes, including a brief stint as the interim head coach at the Earthquakes in 2018.

Club career

Ralston was drafted 18th overall in the 1996 MLS College Draft by the Tampa Bay Mutiny out of Florida International University,[4] and quickly established himself as one of the best players in the league, starting 31 matches in the club's inaugural campaign, scoring seven goals and notching two assists,[5] and concluding the year as the first player in MLS history to win the Rookie of the Year Award.[6] He also helped the club lift the first-ever Supporters' Shield.[7] In his second season, Ralston started 29 matches and scored five goals, adding 11 assists.[5] He was named to the 1997 MLS All-Star team.[7] He started 29 matches in 1998, again scoring five goals, and recording eight assists.[5] In 1999, Ralston was voted Mutiny Team MVP, MLS Best XI, and won the MLS Fair Play Award.[7] He started all 32 matches for the club, scoring five goals and recording a league-leading eighteen assists.[8][5] In 2000, Ralston was named an MLS All-Star for the second time, won the MLS Fair Play Award for the second time, and finished second in the league in assists, with 17.[9] In total, Ralston played for the Mutiny for six years, leaving only after the team was contracted in 2002.[10][11] Ralston departed as the Mutiny as the club's all-time leader in games played (177) and points (130).[citation needed]

On January 11, 2002, Ralston was selected by the New England Revolution in the 2002 Allocation Draft.[12] In his first year with the Revolution, Ralston led the league in assists with 19.[13] He was named MLS Best XI for the second time, and an MLS All-Star for the third time.[14] He helped the team reach the MLS Cup final for the first time, ultimately losing to the LA Galaxy on a Golden Goal in extra time.[15]

Ralston was named an MLS All-Star in 2004, and won goal of the week twice - in week 15 and 19.[14] He was subsequently a finalist for MLS Goal of the Year, and was named Revolution Team MVP.[14][16] In 2006, Ralston was a finalist for the MLS Fair Play Award.[14] He was again named an MLS All-Star in 2007, and led the league in assists, with 14.[17] On July 14, 2007 against the New York Red Bulls, Ralston surpassed his former teammate Carlos Valderrama to become the MLS all-time leader in assists, with 115.[12][18] In 2007 Ralston also helped the club win its first-ever silverware in the form of the 2007 U.S. Open Cup.[19]

In 2008, Ralston was named MLS Player of the Week twice - in matchweeks four and five.[14] He was named an MLS All-Star for the sixth time. He also won the Revolution team Golden Boot award, scoring eight goals and recording seven assists.[14] That year he helped the club secure its second-ever piece of silverware, the 2008 North American SuperLiga, scoring in the final and converting a penalty during the subsequent shoot-out.[20] In 2009 Ralston won the MLS Fair Play Award, and was named Revolution Humanitarian of the Year.[14][21] He suffered a season-ending knee injury in September of the 2009 season.[22]

Ralston's contract with the Revolution ended at the conclusion of the 2009 season,[23] and he left the club to become the first-ever signing of new USSF Division 2 club AC St. Louis.[24] Ralston was one of the team's starting midfielders, and an assistant coach to head coach Claude Anelka.[24]

After AC St. Louis ran in to financial difficulties, Ralston agreed to leave by mutual consent and immediately joined up with his former club New England Revolution.[25]

In Ralston's first appearance back with the New England Revolution, he suffered a left elbow dislocation. In July 2010, he announced his retirement.[26]

Ralston ended his Major League Soccer career as the league's leader in minutes played (33,143), games started (372), appearances (378), and assists (135).[27] In thirteen years in the league, he scored 76 goals and had 135 assists in 378 regular season matches, and added three goals and seven assists in 30 playoff matches.[5][27] He also served as captain for several seasons with New England, from 2007-2009.[27]

International career

Ralston appeared for the United States national team 36 times over an 11-year span and scored 4 international goals. His first cap came on January 17, 1997, against Peru. His last was for the squad that won the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup. He was never selected to a World Cup roster.

Ralston had a break out year for the United States national team in 2005 by earning 15 caps. He scored the game-winning goal in a World Cup qualifying match against Mexico on September 3, 2005. The victory for the United States clinched qualification in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.[28] Due to a later injury, he was only listed as an alternate for the United States at the World Cup.

Coaching career

In July 2010, Ralston took an assistant coaching job at the Houston Dynamo with his former Mutiny teammate Dominic Kinnear.[29][30] On January 6, 2015, the San Jose Earthquakes announced Ralston would join Kinnear in San Jose and once again serve as his assistant coach.[31]

Career statistics

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[32]
National teamYearAppsGoals
United States199740
199910
200020
200372
200430
2005152
200610
200730
Total364
Scores and results list United States' goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Ralston goal.
List of international goals scored by Steve Ralston
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetitionRef.
118 January 2003Lockhart Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, United StatesCanada4–04–0Friendly[33]
219 July 2003Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, United StatesCuba3–05–02003 CONCACAF Gold Cup[34]
330 March 2005Legion Field, Birmingham, United StatesGuatemala2–02–02006 FIFA World Cup qualification[35]
43 September 2005Columbus Crew Stadium, Columbus, United StatesMexico1–02–02006 FIFA World Cup qualification[36]

Honors

United States

New England Revolution

Tampa Bay Mutiny

Individual

References

  1. ^ "Steve Ralston". Major League Soccer. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  2. ^ "Revs statement on captain Steve Ralston". New England Revolution. Retrieved 2010-01-30.
  3. ^ Wiebe, Andrew (November 16, 2020). "Picking the 25 Greatest players in MLS history, Andrew Wiebe". Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  4. ^ "1996 MLS College Draft". March 4, 1996. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  5. ^ "Steve Ralston Career Statistics". Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  6. ^ "MLS Young Player of the Year/Rookie of the Year winners". January 1, 2022. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  7. ^ "Ralston, Steve 2018". Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  8. ^ "1999 Stats". Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  9. ^ "2000 Stats". Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  10. ^ Dell'Apa, Frank (January 11, 2017). "Jan. 11, 2002 – Revolution transformed by Dispersal Draft". Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  11. ^ "MLS Dispersing the Contraction Victims". January 9, 2002. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  12. ^ "Club History Coach and Player Registry". Archived June 12, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  13. ^ "2002 Stats". Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  14. ^ 2024 Media Guide. New England Revolution. Archived March 22, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  15. ^ "MLS Cup History | Fourth time is the charm for L.A. Galaxy in 2002". November 16, 2009. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  16. ^ Lemieux, Jeff (October 18, 2016). "History Lesson: Recapping every team MVP through the Revs' first 20 seasons". Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  17. ^ "2007 Stats". Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  18. ^ Dell'Apa, Frank (July 14, 2017). "July 14, 2007 – Steve Ralston sets MLS record with 115th assist". Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  19. ^ "2007 US Open Cup Final: First time for everything; New England Revolution win first trophy, 3-2 over FC Dallas". October 3, 2007. Archived November 17, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  20. ^ "Revs Capture SuperLiga 2008 Crown". August 6, 2008. Archived June 15, 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  21. ^ "Ralston honored as MLS Fair Play Award winner". November 4, 2009. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  22. ^ "Ralston Houston bound after retiring from Revs". July 21, 2010. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  23. ^ McCarthy, Kyle (November 18, 2018). "Revs Captain Steve Ralston Decides to Move On". Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  24. ^ "Ralston introduced as first AC St. Louis player". February 1, 2010. Archived February 3, 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  25. ^ "Ralston returns to Revolution". June 8, 2010. Archived June 11, 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  26. ^ "Ralston set to announce retirement | Major League Soccer". Archived from the original on 2010-07-22.
  27. ^ "Ralston to take his final bow for Revolution". July 20, 2010. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  28. ^ Keller blanks Mexico to lead USA to World Cup
  29. ^ "Oops! Sorry, Something Went Wrong | Nasl". www.nasl.com
  30. ^ "Steve Ralston Joins The Houston Dynamo As Assistant Coach | Goal.com"
  31. ^ "Quakes name Ralston, Russell, Hanley assistant coaches". San Jose Earthquakes
  32. ^
  33. ^ "USA vs. Canada". National Football Teams. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  34. ^ "USA vs. Cuba". National Football Teams. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  35. ^ "USA vs. Guatemala". National Football Teams. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  36. ^ "USA vs. Mexico". National Football Teams. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  37. ^ "USMNT 2005 GOLD CUP SQUAD". Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  38. ^ "The Winners". Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  39. ^ "MLS' 50-50 club set to welcome its 19th member | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer
  40. ^ All-Star Game flashback, 1997 at MLSsoccer.com
  41. ^ "2000 MLS All-Star Game". MLSsoccer.com. July 29, 2000. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  42. ^ "2008 All-Star Game". July 24, 2008. Retrieved October 22, 2024.